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Auction: 22101 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 284

Pair: 2nd Lieutenant E. Galsworthy, 11th Battalion, Tank Corps, killed in action on 27 September 1918 in an assault on Havrincourt Wood

British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut. E. Galsworthy.), in named card boxes of issue, good very fine (2)

Edgar Galsworthy was born at Appledore, Devon on 4 August 1894, the son of Arthur and Harriett Galsworthy of 3 Marine Parade, Appledore, Devon. His father worked as a Merchant, but chiefly a Ship Broker; young Edgar Galsworthy is noted on the 1911 census as training to be a teacher. He was also a relative of the noted author and dramatist John Galsworthy. Attesting with the 9th Battalion, London Regiment as a reservist on 15 July 1915 Galsworthy saw service at home until 27 May 1916 when he enlisted with the Machine Gun Corps. Galsworthy entered the war in France on 9 July 1916 with 96th Company, Machine Gun Corps, joining his company in the field on 15 July and was promoted Corporal on 2 January 1917.

Applying for a Commission on 8 August 1917 he was successful on 3 February 1918, being appointed 2nd Lieutenant in the 11th Battalion, Tank Corps. Re-entering the war in France on 1 April 1918 Galsworthy saw action at Havrincourt Wood on 27 September. In this engagement tanks of 'A' and 'C' Companies, 11th Battalion went into action in the approach to Havrincourt Wood in support of 5th and 42nd Division's respectively. Both Companies fielded six tanks (two of 'C' Company's having broken down before reaching their start line) which joined the attack at 07:32hrs. Facing heavy fire both Companies advanced, both lost four vehicles to targeted area shot in the fighting. However their contribution was noticeable with two of the Battalion's officers receiving the Military Cross for their actions: 2nd Lieutenants Douglas and Wilson respectively. The infantry opposition here was also notable, with German soldiers actually attempting to pull machine guns and 6-pounders from their hull mountings. The tanks also deployed smoke bombs to conceal their advance during this engagement - sadly these were not effective. Galsworthy was killed in the attack and was buried nearby; he was exhumed and reburied in 1919 at Fifteen Ravine British Cemetery, Villers-Plouich; sold together with original and copied photographs, newspaper cuttings and a letter of condolence from John Galsworthy to the recipient's parents, copied research including service papers, extracts from war diaries and burial details, as well as a CD containing images of the recipient's complete and original National Archives record comprising 83 separate images. Also an attractive large-format framed and named photograph of Galsworthy in uniform.

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Sold for
£1,500

Starting price
£240